Bottle capping machine



Sept. 14, 1954 c, PR|CE 2,689,074

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1952 INVENTOR CHARLES S. PRICE ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Charles S. Price, Rutherford, N. J.

Application April 3, 1952, Serial No. 280,286

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bottle-capping machines and, more particularly, to one improved to crimp caps on bottles under high pressure without danger of rupturing the deformable crimping element.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide improved and reliable means whereby the deformable crimping element or cup and the receiving foiling head may be automatically or manually moved to operative position prior to a controlled safe distortion of the element and said element then allowed to return to normal shape by the release of the deforming force before moving the crimping head away from operative position.

Another object of my invention is to provide crimping mechanism which will operate without injuring the deformable capsule or foiling head.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism which will operate automatically or as desired by the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing, in which like parts are designated by like reference characters,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing a modification.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating alternative forms of control mechanism.

Either form of machine shown in the drawing can be used with a machine which applies caps or capsules H to the heads of bottles I2, or said caps can be applied to the bottles by hand. Said caps H are desirably made of metal foil, but can be made of other suitable yieldable material.

To do a satisfactory job of crimping metal caps on bottle heads, an excess of 200 pounds per square inch is required. We have to provide this pressure without danger and without the risk of rupturing the flexible or rubber cup comprising the foiling head, in case the bottle is not in place to have a cap crimped over its head and neck.

Others have attempted to so crimp by using high pressure air instead of liquid. The result has been that when there is a miss, the bottle not being in place when the pressure is applied, this high pressure air ruptures the rubber cup.

My crimper does two things which are essential for a successful operation. First, it supplies an exactly-controlled hydraulic pressure 1 automatically applied and, second, it limits the total amount of compression to a point beyond that required to develop this pressure against the bottle neck and still not enough to overstress the rubber cup in case a bottle is not in place when the pressure is applied.

Essentially, this device consists of an air cylinder directly connected to and in tandem with an hydraulic cylinder, in such a manner that the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder is increased, as compared to that of the air, resulting in a final effective pressure approximately equal to the air pressure multiplied by the ratio of the areas of the air cylinder and the hydraulic cylinder. A preferred ratio in my device is about 5 to 1, that is a piston in a 3 /2, diameter air cylinder actuating a piston in a 1%" diameter hydraulic cylinder. This means that pounds of air pressure is boosted to about 220 pounds of hydraulic pressure. The stroke of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder is in the present embodiment limited to 2 inches, as this has been found to be the'optimum stroke to insure complete crimping and not enough to cause cup damage when a bottle is not'in place during the crimping operation.

In the machine of the embodiment of Figure 1, I use a piston with a six inch stroke in the air cylinder. Such a piston has the multiple purpose of lowering, crimping, and raising the crimping head from the bottle after the crimping operation is completed. In other words, of this total 6 inch stroke, 4 inches may be used to raise and lower the crimping head over the neck of'the bottle, and the remaining 2 inches may be used to compress the liquid around the rubber crimping cup, which movement has been found sufficient for the purpose and will not effect rupture of said cup even if a'bot'tle is not in place. However, these 'distances may be varied with the size of the bottle cap to be applied.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 1, air cylinder i3 is fitted with a double-acting piston M, the piston rod l5 of which passes through gland 58 in the lower head 26' and is directly connected to, or continued as the piston rod l6 which actuates the piston H in the hydraulic cylinder l8. The cylinder l3, which may consist of a thinwalled intermediate hollow steel cylindrical portion closed at its ends by ported upper and lower heads 24 and 24, may be fixedly mounted on a suitable support 30, as illustrated, at the required distanceabove the bench or other means 40 upon may be held at the proper height after adjustment by tightening the set screw 50.

The cylinder I8 is part of a crimping member or head generally designated 19, comprising a cross-head 2|, which may be connected to or form part of the cylinder IS. The cross-head M is suitably mounted on guide rods 22, depending from the cylinder I 3, and terminating in stops 2|, which may be nuts threaded on said rods, for limiting movement of the cylinder 18 from the cylinder I3. The cylinder I8 is biased toward lowermost position by the action of coil compression springs 23 mounted on said rods 22 and acting between the lower head 24' of the cylinder l3 and the cross-head 2|. The lower end of the cylinder 18 is normally closed by the. crimping cup or foiling head 25, of proper size to normally freely receive the head and neck of the bottle I2 to which a cup II is to be crimped. The cup '25 is made of rubber or other suitable resilient and deformable material, and held in place by a nut 26..

The liquid 2,! (usually water), in the cylinder l8 and between the cup 25 and the piston H. i normally at the level 28 in any expansion chamber 29 on the top of the cross-head 2|. As the hydraulic piston I! rises and .falls, the water above the piston rises and falls in the expansion chamber, passing in and out of ports 3| in plug 32. There is a special bleed port 33, which opens below the piston in its upper position, connecting the cylinder below the piston with the expansion chamber 29. This connection is only established at the top, non-compression, or up stroke of the hydraulic piston and then any trapped air passes freely throughthe bleed port and out of the hydraulic, cylinder. This is important, as any end of the cylinder l3 and introduced into the bottom end thereof below the piston l 4. The first action is to raise piston l 1 until it meets plug 32, because of the helical springs 23, which hold the crimping head it against guide rod stops 2B.

' After the piston ll engages the plug 32, further air trapped in the hydraulic cylinder causes improper action on crimping. In other words, the hydraulic system is automatically bled between each compression stroke.

It is further necessary to provide means for the liquid 21 to rise and fall in the expansion chamber 29, without appreciable loss. To accomplish this I provide a cover 34 having a gland 35 through which the rod l5 reciprocates, and internal baffles 36 and 31 so that the air from the expansion chamber as liquid rises therein, is forced through staggered apertures 38 forming a devious path, as indicated, before being permitted to escape. Along this devious path, the air gives up liquid with which it may have co-mingled, and the air itself passes in and out of .a port in the cover 34.

"In operation, the piston 14 is normally at the top of the stroke. ,A bottle. 12 with a cap ll loosely fitted over its head and neck, having been placed beneath the crimper, air automatically or byoperator is introduced above piston l4, forcing it downward until the crimping head 1 9 is at the lower end of the guide rods 22 and bottomed against guide rod stops 20. At this point, the descent of the crimping head 19 is arrested, and the balance of the stroke of the air piston I4 is used in loweringthe hydraulic piston I! in its and crimped cap, giving an hermetic seal and a tamper-proof closure for the bottle.

Compressed air is then released from the top lifting of the piston I"! raises the head [9 away from stops 2i], compressing springs 23, and away from the bottle, clearing the same so that another bottle and cap can be moved into place and the operation repeated.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of my invention, generally utilizing the principle of the first embodiment. In this case, the fixedly mounted cylinder 18* and its piston Il form a unit with the air cylinder w having a stroke equivalent to or cor-responding with the stroke of the piston l! of Figure l. The air cylinder may consist of a thin walled intermediate hollow steel cylindrical portion closed at its ends by ported upper and ower heads W an 2 e pport d at an adjusted heigh as n e p eceding em diment- The air piston 1 has a strok e a nt to a of the piston I since the on y fun t n oi t unit in this case, is to provide the hydraulic pres?- IB The lifting of the hydraulic crimpin head It} from, and its return to, the bottle can be accomplished in many ways, either by a separate nechanica-l device or by hand. One desirable method isto support this head W by means of a helical spring 23 above the bottle to be capped, or the bottling line, and to have the operator place the head it over the head and neck of the bottle :2 actuatin h mpin m ch n m a y means of an electric c ntr l. by si a ircu t to efieet admission o air under res ure ab v the. cylinder It, y pressin a but on 42 and then remove the head after the crimp is c om.- pleted and place it over the succeeding bottle, rebeating the oper ion.

The xpansion chamber is in this case provided at as and an air relief valve 43 allows air to breathe in and out of the expansion hamber without allowing the water to pass out with it.

A bleed port 33* is also provided, so that when the hydraulic piston ll is in its upper position, the lower or pressure chamber is connected with the expansion chamber, allowing, any trapped air to bleed out as in the first embodiment. The compression chamber of the, hydraulic cylinder [3 is connected to the chamber of this crimping head Is by hydraulic hose 44. Except as specifically described, the second embodiment may correspond with the first.

In both of the forms illustrated, the admission and release of air to and from the air cylinder may be electrically controlled in accordance with Figure 3. In said figure, I have shown a port 45 through which air under pressure goes to a valve 48 slidable in a suitably ported chamber 46' and controlling the admission and exhaust of air with respect to said cylinder through ports 4'! and 48 respectively in the upper and lower or head and rod ends of said cylinder. ing a switch 49 or 49 as by pressin a button su h as the bottle-operated button d2 of Fig. 1

or the hand operated button 42 of Fig. 2, a cirsuit. is stablished t rough a b ttery, or other source of electrical ner y 5 through so eno 52, surrounding armature 53 connected to said .slide valve, moving the latter up, against the force of return spring 54, acting between an abutment .55 and a sho de 56 on h who 51 biasing th al e t wa d normally l wer loosi- Upon clostion, to admit pressure to the head end of the cylinder l3 or l3*-, through port 41 or 41 and exhaust it from the rod end thereof through port 48 or 48 This causes the piston H or Il as the case may be, to move down and develop the necessary hydraulic pressure to effect crimping ofa cap on the head and neck of the bottle 12 or l2=-. Upon opening the switch 49 or 49 the spring 54 moves the valve in the opposite direction, allowing the air to exhaust from the head end of the cylinder I3 or I3", through port 41 or 47 and be admitted to the rod end through port 48 or 48 thereby first releasing the pressure on the deformable foiling head 25 or 25 and-then, in the case of the first embodiment, withdrawing said head 25 from the head and neck of the bottle. In the case of the second embodiment, this withdrawal of the head 25* may be effected by the operator.

Figure 4 shows an alternative mechanical control for the valve 46, comprising a manuallyoperable lever 59 pivoted to a fixed support at 60 and to the end of a control rod 6|, which is continued to connect with said valve, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 shows another alternative mechanical control for the valve 46, comprising a roller 62 pivoted on a lever 59 which is, in turn pivoted to a fixed support at 60*. A cam B3fixed' on shaft 64 which is turned in synchronism with mechanism (not shown) for feeding bottles l2 in place to have caps crimped thereon, serves as an alternative for the operators hand on the lever 59 of Fig. 4, for operating the roller carrying lever 55*.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved machine for crimping caps on the heads and necks of bottles, which machine may be controlled electrically or mechanically. It will also be seen that, in addition to the advantages before enumerated, my machine avoids bottle breakage, even in the form of Fig. 1, by resiliently bringing the crimping head in place over the heads and necks of bottles by limited air pressure, rather than excessive mechanical force. Thus, even if the edge of the crimping head struck the head of a bottle, rather than receiving said head, the bottle would not be broken under normal conditions.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made.

I claim:

1. In a bottle capping machine, in combination, an hydraulic cylinder, a deformable crimping cup, said cylinder containing a liquid which when subjected to pressure deforms said crimping cup, a piston in said cylinder for placing said liquid under pressure, said cylinder being connected to said crimp-ing cup for applying crimping pressure thereto when receiving the head and neck of a bottle to be capped, a second cylinder in tandem with said first cylinder, a piston located and movable axially in said second cylinder, a rod connecting said pistons so that they move together, and means for introducing compressed air to either side of the piston in said second cylinder, so as to cause it, to either move said hydraulic piston to deform said crimping cup about a received cap on the head and neck of a bottle, or return said hydraulic piston to release the pressure on said cup.

2. In a machine for crimping foil cups over the heads and necks of bottles, in combination, a compressed-air operating cylinder mounted above a bottle support, an hydraulic capping cylinder of smaller diameter mounted in tandem with said operating cylinder, a deformable crimping .cup connected to the lower end of said capping cylinder, a piston in each cylinder, a rod rigidly extending from one piston to the other to cause them to reciprocate in unison, liquid in said capping cylinder beneath its piston, and about said cup, and means for introducing compressed air to said operating cylinder on a selected side of its piston to cause either descent with a downward movement of the capping piston in its cylinder and a deformation of said I crimping cup, or an upward return of both to starting position.

3. In a bottle capping machine, in combination, an hydraulic cylinder, a deformable crimping cup, said cylinder containing a liquid which when subjected to pressure deforms said crimping cup, a piston in said cylinder for placing said liquid under pressure, said cylinder for the purpose being connected to said cup for applying crimping pressure thereinto when it has received the head and neck of a bottle to be capped, a second cylinder in tandem with said hydraulic cylinder, a piston located and movable axially in said second cylinder, a rod connecting said pistons so that they move together, a slide valve for alternately introducing compressed air to either side of the piston in said second cylinder, and control means for moving said slide valve one way or the other, so as to either introduce air to the outer end of the second cylinder to move the hydraulic piston to deformthe crimping cup" about a received cap on the head and neck of a properly placed bottle, or introduce it to the inner end of said second cylinder to return said hydraulic piston to release position.

4. In a machine for crimping foil caps over the heads and necks of bottles, in combination, a compressed air operating cylinder mounted above a bottle support, an hydraulic capping cylinder of smaller diameter, mounted in tandem with said operating cylinder, a piston in each cylinder, a rod rigidly extending from one piston to the other to cause them to reciprocate in unison, liquid in said capping cylinder beneath its piston, a deformable crimping cup connected to the lower end of said capping cylinder, an expansion chamber disposed above and connected to said hydraulic cylinder, said expansion chamber being closed by means allowing air to escape but trapping entrained liquid, and a bleed port extended from a position in said hydraulic cylinder below the upper position of its piston to at every stroke allow liquid to flow from said expansion chamber back into said cylinder, below the piston, a deformable crimping cup connected with the lower end of said capping cylinder, and means for introducing compressed air to said operating cylinder on a selected side of its piston to cause either descent with a downward movement of the capping piston in its cylinder and a deforma tion of said crimping cup, or an upward return of both to starting position.

5. In a machine for crimping foil caps over the heads and necks of bottles, an air cylinder, a piston therein, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston therein, an expansion chamber disposed above and connected to said hydraulic cylinder and a bleed port extended from a position in said hydraulic cylinder below the upper position of its piston to at every stroke allow liquid to flow from said expansion chamber back into said cylinder,

below the piston, a rod connecting both pistons so that th y actto etheri a: c imc h icuplinsaid hydraulic cylinder, and means allowin mo,.emerit of said cylinde with respect tooh an: other, whereby only a portion of the stroke of;

the aircylinder is utilized to move the cylinders with respect to one another and the remainder of the stroke utilized to actuate the piston in" the hydraulic cylinder to stress the cup to a controlled extent only.

6; In a foil capping machine a capping 0371- 5,

inder, a deformable crimping cup connected to the mouth of said cylinder, an hydraulic piston;

in said cylinder, an expansion chamber disposed above and connected to said hydraulic cylinder? and a bleed port extended from a position in said hydraulic cylinder below the upperposition of its piston to, at every stroke allow liquid to" flow from said expansion chamber back into said cylinder, below the piston, and means for moving Said piston only enough to provide positive crimping of a cap on a bottle head and neck, by. limiting compression so. that the cup will not be ruptured if a bottle is not in-place.

7;. In a bottle-capping machine, in'combinae tion, an hydraulic cylinder, a deformable crimp 8, cup connec ed to the lowerend said earrin cyl d sa d ops bein pos tion d at a ho a ove sai b ttle su o so tha when. en a ed by said capp n cy nde he r mp h ad is at a he ht op rative for r in h ead and n c of a b t n d s ppo t he behea h. a o in o each, r urging a d app n cy in e in o n a ement h d st p P 1 on in each l n e a r i l e n n from one piston tothe otherto cause them to reciproe o in son, l u n s d capp lind r -x h thit i t n and m ns for nt du in I om r ss air to aidopcra n c lin e on a s lec ed s of i s p ston t caus ei her e ent wit iefi s a s multaneous .snrin ss s e move:

.h e t o thc cappin c l nde an i s on ntil I h fo er e a es said to s, and th n a down:

ward, mo m n f the cappin p s o i i s cylinder and a'deformation of said crimpin Cup,

r an u rd etu n of first t e cappin pi to in tsoy hdc and then oth o st tin pos ti n with ompre sion of aid sprin s.

.9-Iii o t -ca in machin in comb n t n,-'a ,hydrau io c l nde a c mpin head, a

, ing cup connected to the lowerzend'of said cyle inder, said cylinder containinga liquid which when subjected to pressure deformssaid orimpe ing cup, an hydraulic piston located and movable axially in said cylinder, said cylinder being mounted for axial movement in a predetermined path to and from operative position with respect to a bottle to becapped, a second cylinder',.guide rods extending longitudinally therefrom and carrying stops adjacent their outer (ends, said p-pin cylinder being reciprocably mounted on said rods, between a position adjacent said: sec ond cylinder and said stops, where said capping cylinder is in operative'position with respect to a bottle to be capped, resilient means urging said cylinders apart, a piston located and movable axially in said second cylinder, a rod connec'ting i Pistons .9 h t hey m ve t her, and

means for introducing compressed air to either side of the piston in said second cylinder, so as to cause it to either move from the outer end of its cylinder to, assisted by said resilientmeans, first move said hydraulic cylinder and its piston to operative position in engagement with said the heads and necks of bottles, in combination,

deformable crimping cup mounted therein and o ne'ctoriby a flex bl hose o ceive p es ure developed n said cylinder, means resiliently S: ih liquid'which .when subjected to pressure thus deforms said crimping cup, piston located and movable axially in said cylinder, a second 0Y1? inderiin tandem with said first cylinder, a piston located and movable axially in said second cy1,

inder, a;rodconnectin g said pistons so that they movetog'ether, and means for introducing com: pressed air to, either side oi the piston in said second-cylinder, so as to cause it, when moving from theouter end of its cylinder, to move said hyd u c pis n, t d form said cri p head about a" received-cap on the head and neck of a bo t o er w ch aid cr mpi :head ma b placed- 10l I a machin or crimp n i c p v theheads and necks of bottles, a compressed air operating cylinder disposed above a bottle support, an hydraulic cylinder of smaller die t n ter, a crimping head and enclosed deform-r able cup resiliently suspended therebeneath for movement with respect to said cylinder, for re:

'ceiving the head and neck of a bottle therebeneath, a piston in each cylinder, a rod rigidly a compressed-air operating cylinder mounted above a bottle support, guide rods extendingdown from said cylinder and terminating in stops,

an hydraulic capping cylinder of smaller diameter reciprocably mounted on said guide rods for movement from said operating cylinder to said stops and return, a deformable crimping extending from one piston to the other to cause them to reciprocate in unison, a flexible hose connecting said crimping head and hydraulic cylinder, liquid in said head, hose and hydraulic cylinder beneath its piston, and means for me troducing compressed air to said operating cylinder on a selected-side of its piston to cause eitherdescent with a simultaneous movement of the hydraulic piston and crimping cup, or a return of both to starting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,780,639 Burdick et a1. Nov. 4, 193!) 2,193,618 Carter Mar. 12, 19%) a ead said c l der containing a 

